Manchester arts complex HOME is going outdoors for the summer with a huge outdoor venue – Homeground – on First Street offering the best in live entertainment across two stages.
Homeground, opening on May 28, will have a 400-seat, socially-distanced outdoor theatre and a second stage with free live shows.
Slated for the main stage are productions of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Filter Theatre and a children-orientated production of Alice in Wonderland.
Homeground will occupy an 80,000 sq ft site on First Street, across from HOME and slated for future development. It will play host to work by partner organisations such as Frog & Bucket, Contact and Trans Creative, as well as music, cabaret, and comedy.
The project will create 450 new job opportunities for freelance artists and creative works and audiences will be able to see the two HOME productions for £10 a ticket (£5 for children) thanks to outside support. There will also be free performances for school groups.
HOME director and CEO Dave Moutrey said: “We all want to bring a sense of hope and joy back to our communities, and to provide more opportunities for an artistic freelance sector decimated by the pandemic.
“People in our city, especially young people, have been deprived of live theatre for the past year – we want this to be a celebration of Manchester’s creativity and resilience.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open on June 3 until June 26. Tickets go on general sale on April 20. Alice in Wonderland will offer an up-to-date take on the family favourite, with new songs. It runs July 15-August 7.
Alongside the main programme will be a free stage in the food and drink terrace. The Manchester Stage will have a different curator from the city every week, including Manchester Folk Festival, Contact, and DJs. There will also be food and drink from stallholders. More shows and events will be announced over the coming months.
More information here